The EIU view

La République en marche, the party of the president, Emmanuel Macron, has a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, along with its ally, the Mouvement démocrate. Mr Macron is pursuing plans to reform the tax system, social welfare and education, and immigration, and we expect significant legislative progress. He is also championing the fight against climate change and pushing to reform the EU, in part through a revived Franco-German partnership.

Talks with unions break down
The authorities will hold firm on issues that they deem important. The welfare system reform will pass in mid-2019, but is unlikely to have a material impact on unemployment.

A surge of oxygen for the tech sector?
Efforts to draw in funding and investment for tech start-ups are attracting attention, but France is likely to remain a small player on the tech front, compared with the US and China.

World Cup win brings national euphoria
The success of the football team fits neatly into the presidents narrativeat the diplomatic levelthat France has returned to the world stage as a major player.